The King’s SecretThere had been no time to react.
Pan had been on his way back to the palace after having spent a pleasant month with his family on their farm by the Great Forest. His two Hapsid escorts, great lumbering creatures, half-man, half-beast, were riding on either side. Had they continued riding, they might have avoided trouble. As it was, Pan, eager to present himself at his best to his beloved sovereign, King Seronisis, ordered his two armed escorts to stop by a small pond not a mile from the palace gates.
After dismounting, the Hapsid troopers helped Pan out of his clothes and escorted him to the water’s edge where they waited while Pan bathed, washing the dirt and sweat of a long ride from his smooth, toned body. Seeing the troopers deep in conversation, Pan turned and bega
